As one of the best character actors in the business, David Krumholtz’s best movies and TV shows display the incredible career the actor has had over the past several decades. Krumholtz started his onscreen career as a child actor in movies like Addams Family Values and has remained a big part of the business ever since. Throughout the years, he has worked with filmmakers like the Coen Brothers, Ang Lee, and Christopher Nolan, showcasing his talent in comedy and drama.
While Krumholtz has rarely been the leading man, he has also elevated most of the projects he is in with scene-stealing performances and a memorable presence on screen. Krumholtz can play the goofy best friend, the complicated genius, and even a short-tempered elf. With such a wide variety of roles throughout his career, it is hard to say which of his projects he is best known for, but there are some that stand out.
10 Numb3rs (2005-2010)
As Charlie Eppes
Numb3rs CrimeDramaMystery Where to Watch
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Numb3rs is a crime drama series where FBI agent Don Eppes (Rob Morrow) teams up with his mathematician brother Charlie (David Krumholtz) to solve complex criminal cases using mathematical approaches. The show explores the synergy between law enforcement and mathematical theory.
Cast Rob Morrow , David Krumholtz , Judd Hirsch , Alimi Ballard , Sabrina Lloyd , Dylan Bruno , Diane Farr , Navi Rawat , Peter MacNicol Release Date January 23, 2005 Seasons 6
While David Krumholtz has appeared in a number of acclaimed series in a guest star or recurring character capacity, Numb3rs was the first time he led a series and turned into one of his biggest successes. The show is a police procedural with a twist, as Krumholtz plays a math genius who uses those skills to solve complicated crimes alongside his brother, played by Rob Morrow, who is an FBI agent.
It is a strong show of proof that Krumholtz can lead a project.
The unique concepts make for an interesting case-of-the-week show that sets itself apart from other series of that kind. Krumholtz further elevates the show thanks to his winning performance. He offers a much-needed comedic element to the series as Charlie Eppes, the genius who still has plenty of flaws, but he also grounds Eppes with emotional moments. It is a strong show of proof that Krumholtz can lead a project.
9 Sausage Party (2016)
As Kareem Abdul-Lavash
Sausage Party RComedyAnimationAdventure Where to Watch
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Written by and starring Seth Rogen, Sausage Party follows a group of anthropomorphized food from a supermarket who inadvertently learn the truth about what happens to food after it’s bought from the store, and set out on a quest to attempt to keep themselves from being bought and eaten. Rogen stars as Frank, that titular sausage, with an ensemble cast that includes Michael Cera, Kristin Wiig, James Franco, Bill Hader, Salma Hayek, and Jonah Hill.
Director Conrad Vernon , Greg Tiernan Release Date August 12, 2016 Cast Kristen Wiig , Michael Cera , Craig Robinson , Salma Hayek Pinault , Bill Hader , Seth Rogen , Paul Rudd , Edward Norton , Jonah Hill , James Franco , Danny McBride Runtime 89minutes
David Krumholtz has worked alongside his friend and fellow actor Seth Rogen on a number of projects. However, the biggest role he had in one of their collaborations turned out to be an animated movie. Sausage Party is like a twisted version of a Pixar film as it looks at the life of the food in the refrigerator and their ambitions to get chosen by the shoppers and taken to paradise. However, when the food items discover that people are mercilessly eating the food, they seek to fight back.
Krumholtz delivers a hilarious voice performance as Kareem Abdul-Lavash, a Middle Eastern lavash who joins the group of heroes to stop the hungry humans. The movie is a star-studded affair with Krumholtz and Rogen also joined by Salma Hayek, Edward Norton, Kristen Wiig, Michael Cera, and others. It leans heavy into the R-rating with cartoonish violence and vulgar material. The success of the movie was enough to lead to the new sequel series, Sausage Party: Foodtopia.
8 Serenity (2005)
As Mr. Universe
Serenity (2005) PG-13Sci-FiActionAdventure
Directed by Joss Whedon, Serenity is a science fiction film that follows the renegade crew of the spaceship Serenity. Starring Nathan Fillion as Captain Malcolm Reynolds, the crew must protect a telepathic girl with powerful secrets from a totalitarian regime while navigating through space against hostile forces. The film blends action and adventure, expanding on the universe established in the television series Firefly.
Director Joss Whedon Release Date September 30, 2005 Cast Nathan Fillion , Gina Torres , Chiwetel Ejiofor , Alan Tudyk , Morena Baccarin , Adam Baldwin , Jewel Staite , Sean Maher Runtime 119 Minutes
The Firefly movie Serenity carried on the story started in the cult classic sci-fi show from Joss Whedon. The cast of the series returns in Serenity, which follows Mal and his ragtag group of space cowboys who act as intergalactic smugglers only to find themselves caught up in a dangerous conspiracy and pursued by a ruthless operative of the powerful Alliance.
Rent on Apple TV.
David Krumholtz has a small supporting role in the movie as Mr. Universe, a hacker who sells information to whoever is willing to pay for it. Krumholtz effectively plays the different layers of Mr. Universe, making him a likable side character even though he is morally bankrupt and willing to serve whichever side is paying the most. While the movie bombed at the box office, it is a fun sci-fi movie that blends genres with a sense of humor and exciting action that will please Firefly fans.
7 Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle (2004)
As Goldstein
Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle pg-13AdventureComedy Where to Watch
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The first film in the Harold and Kumar franchise, Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle stars Kal Penn and John Cho, two roomates who, after getting high from smoking marijuana, embark on an epic adventure to get hamburgers from White Castle. Neil Patrick Harris also stars in the film as a fictionalized version of himself.
Director Danny Leiner Release Date May 30, 2004 Cast John Cho , Ethan Embry , Robert Tinkler , Fred Willard , Kal Penn , Steve Braun Runtime 88minutes
David Krumholtz joined the cast of one of the most beloved buddy comedies of all time. John Cho and Kal Penn star in Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle as a pair of friends who, after smoking weed in their apartment after a long day, make it their mission to go to get burgers and fries from White Castle. As simple as the plans seems, the duo encounters one issue after another, including dealing with the manic celebrity Neil Patrick Harris.
Harold & Kumar became a cult comedy favorite and launched a comedy franchise with Krumholtz returning as Goldstein throughout the
Harold & Kumar
trilogy.
Krumholtz appears as Goldstein, the neighbor of Harold and Kumar who has his own bromance going on with his roommate Rosenberg, played by American Pie actor Eddie Kaye Thomas. They have a small part to play in the overall story, but their own separate adventure helps to inspire the heroes of this tale. Harold & Kumar became a cult comedy favorite and launched a comedy franchise with Krumholtz returning as Goldstein throughout the Harold & Kumar trilogy.
6 The Deuce (2017-2019)
As Harvey Wasserman
The Deuce Drama Where to Watch
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Starring James Franco and Maggie Gyllenhaal, The Deuce is a television series originally released on HBO that chronicles the “golden age of pornography.” It’s a Drama and ran for three seasons between 2017 and 2019.
Cast James Franco , Maggie Gyllenhaal Release Date August 25, 2017 Seasons 3
Another one of David Krumholtz’s most extensive television roles was also one of the most underrated HBO shows to date. The Deuce explores the world of Times Square in New York City in the 1970s and 1980s before the area was cleaned up for tourists. It follows a variety of characters who are all connected to the world of sex work, pornography, and club-owning. The show features the likes of James Franco, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Dominique Fishback.
Despite the connotations that might come with such work, Krumholtz imbues Harvey with a lot of charm, humor, and kindness…
Krumholtz has a standout role throughout the show’s three-season run, playing adult filmmaker Harvey Wasserman. Despite the connotations that might come with such work, Krumholtz imbues Harvey with a lot of charm, humor, and kindness, especially as he becomes the mentor for Maggie Gyllenhaal’s Eileen, a sex worker with aspirations of being a filmmaker. The show is a vivid and exciting look at this era in New York City with the complex characters who populated this world, from the nefarious villains to the ambitious people looking to make their mark.
5 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
As Michael Eckman
10 Things I Hate About You 3
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Based on Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, 10 Things I Hate About You is a modern retelling of the classic play, set against the backdrop of a 90s Seattle high school. When social outcast Patrick Verona is paid to try and win over antisocial Kat Stratford in order so her younger sister will be allowed to date, he and Kat find an unexpected connection forming between them. Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger star as Kat and Patrick, with a further cast that includes Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Larisa Oleynik, David Krumholtz, Andrew Keegan, and Larry Miller.
Director Gil Junger Release Date March 31, 1999 Cast Julia Stiles , Heath Ledger , Joseph Gordon-Levitt , Larisa Oleynik , Larry Miller , Andrew Keegan , David Krumholtz , Susan May Pratt Runtime 97 minutes
Even when he is in a cast of fellow stars in the making, like Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Julia Stiles, and Heath Ledger, David Krumholtz has the ability to stand out and steal scenes. 10 Things I Hate About You is loosely based on William Shakespeare’s play, The Taming of the Shrew. Gordon-Levitt plays a young teen who, in an effort to date his dream girl, pays Ledger’s bad boy character to take out her older sister (Stiles).
He is there to deliver the funny one-liners and adds some humor to each scene, but he also gets a small love story of his own later in the movie.
Krumholtz offers a terrific comedic performance as Michael Eckman, the awkward best friend to Gordon-Levitt’s Cameron. He is there to deliver the funny one-liners and adds some humor to each scene, but he also gets a small love story of his own later in the movie. With such a strong cast of future stars, it should come as no surprise that 10 Things I Hate About You became a beloved teen rom-com of the 1990s, standing out as one of the definitive movies of this era of the genre.
4 Addams Family Values (1993)
As Joel Glicker
Addams Family Values 1
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Addams Family Values is a 1993 comedy film directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, following the eccentric Addams family as they welcome a new baby and face the threat of their conniving new nanny, Debbie Jellinsky. The film features Raul Julia, Anjelica Huston, and Christina Ricci reprising their roles from the original film, capturing the peculiar humor and macabre charm of the beloved characters.
Director Barry Sonnenfeld Release Date November 19, 1993 Cast Anjelica Huston , Raul Julia , Christopher Lloyd , Joan Cusack , Christina Ricci , Carol Kane Runtime 94 Minutes
In one of his first movie roles, David Krumholtz showed off his considerable comedic skills. Addams Family Values is the hilarious sequel to the adaptation of the beloved comic strip and TV series of the past. It follows the titular family, a ghoulish clan of death-obsessed and charmingly macabre people, as they contend with an even more evil addition to their family – Uncle Fester’s new wife, who plans to murder the family for their wealth.
Even at a young age, Krumholtz nails the dry comedy delivery of the character.
This is a rare sequel better than the original, with Addams Family Values embracing the dark humor more than the first film. However, the highlight of the movie is a subplot featuring Christina Ricci as Wednesday Addams attending a nauseatingly clean-cut summer camp where she bonds with the other outcast of the group, Joel Glicker (Krumholtz). Even at a young age, Krumholtz nails the dry comedy delivery of the character.
3 The Santa Clause (1994)
As Bernard
The Santa Clause PGFantasyFamilyComedyDrama Where to Watch
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Disney’s The Santa Clause follows Scott Calvin (Tim Allen), a marketing director for a toy company, who, after a recent divorce, is spending Christmas with his young son, Charlie (Eric Lloyd). When he startles an intruder off of his roof on Christmas Eve, Scott accidentally volunteers to be the new Santa, then spends the following year undergoing a magical transformation into jolly old St. Nick.
Director John Pasquin Release Date November 11, 1994 Cast Wendy Crewson , Judge Reinhold , David Krumholtz , Eric Lloyd , Tim Allen Runtime 97 minutes
Despite having so many acclaimed projects he has been involved with, The Santa Clause is where a lot of people know David Krumholtz. That is a testament to the long-lasting love for the movie as well as the effectiveness of Krumholtz’s performance. The classic Christmas movie stars Tim Allen as a work-obsessed divorced dad who, on Christmas Eve, accidentally knocks Santa Claus off his roof and thus inherits the responsibility of the position.
Krumholtz shines in a supporting role as Bernard, the head elf in the North Pole. Krumholtz more than holds his own in the role as the no-nonsense elf who, though appearing young, seems constantly frustrated by the pressures of the job. The movie is a funny, magical, and clever holiday comedy that has launched a franchise with Krumholtz’s Bernard returning for each installment.
2 Slums of Beverly Hills (1998)
As Ben Abromowitz
Slums Of Beverly Hills RComedyDrama
Slums of Beverly Hills is a coming-of-age comedy-drama directed by Tamara Jenkins. Set in 1976, it stars Natasha Lyonne as Vivian, a teenage girl navigating adolescence while her nomadic family struggles to stay afloat in the wealthy suburbs of Beverly Hills.
Director Tamara Jenkins Release Date August 14, 1998 Cast Natasha Lyonne , Alan Arkin , Marisa Tomei , David Krumholtz , Kevin Corrigan , Jessica Walter , Carl Reiner Runtime 91 minutes
David Krumholtz joined the stellar cast of the quirky and hilarious comedy Slums of Beverly Hills. Set in 1976, the movie stars Natasha Lyonne as Vivian, a young girl in a lower-middle-class Jewish family who constantly moves around to various homes in Beverly Hills but does not fit in the wealthy society normally associated with the area. Krumholtz co-stars as Ben, Vivian’s older brother.
Krumholtz is entertaining as a young man with dreams of becoming a star in show business.
The movie is a hilarious coming-of-age comedy that takes a look at the struggles of teen life as well as the feeling of being an outsider. Krumholtz is entertaining as a young man with dreams of becoming a star in show business. The quirky sense of humor is delivered perfectly by the excellent cast that includes Alan Arkin and Marisa Tomei. The small movie has shown incredible staying power, still remaining as one of Krumholtz’s most beloved projects.
1 Oppenheimer (2023)
As Isidor Isaac Rabi
Oppenheimer 2
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Oppenheimer is a film by Christopher Nolan, which follows the theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, the man behind the atomic bomb. Cillian Murphy will play the titular role, with the story based on the book American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin.
Director Christopher Nolan Release Date July 21, 2023 Cast Cillian Murphy , Emily Blunt , Matt Damon , Robert Downey Jr. , Rami Malek , Florence Pugh Runtime 150 Minutes
While he has been acting for decades, Oppenheimer was a movie that brought a new level of attention to David Krumholtz, giving him a standout character in Christopher Nolan’s Best Picture winner. Oppenheimer stars Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer, the man who successfully spearheaded the Manhattan Project which saw the creation of the hydrogen bomb that was eventually dropped on Japan at the end of World War II.
The cast of Oppenheimer is stacked with big-name performers in big and small roles, including the likes of Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Florence Pugh, and Robert Downey Jr. However, even in the amazing ensemble, Krumholtz earned considerable praise for his performance as Isidor Isaac Rabi, one of Oppenheimer’s closest friends and supporters. Oppenheimer is a stunning filmmaking achievement, with Nolan telling the expansive and layered story with thrilling moments as well as chilling ones as it deals with the consequences of this scientific achievement.